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Difference between revisions of "Hálapénz, paraszolvencia (Hungary)"
Hálapénz, paraszolvencia (Hungary) (view source)
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| authorofpiece =Greta Danisova | | authorofpiece =Greta Danisova | ||
| authorinstitution =Alumna, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, UK | | authorinstitution =Alumna, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, UK | ||
| authorwebsite =[https://uk.linkedin.com/in/greta-danisova-80a490a4 Profile page | | authorwebsite =[https://uk.linkedin.com/in/greta-danisova-80a490a4 Profile page on LinkedIn]}} | ||
<big>'''By Greta Danisova, Alumna, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, UK'''</big> | <big>'''By Greta Danisova, Alumna, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, UK'''</big> | ||
[[Category:Hungary]] | [[Category:Hungary]] | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
</ref>. The ‘medical barons’ may put a small proportion of their ''hálapénz'' to a petty-cash fund and then distribute it among nurses and paramedics, crucial to their work. | </ref>. The ‘medical barons’ may put a small proportion of their ''hálapénz'' to a petty-cash fund and then distribute it among nurses and paramedics, crucial to their work. | ||
''Hálapénz'' is inseparable from the state of the Hungarian health system. Gratuity payments both help the health system function and diminish its resources. For every 1,000 patients in Hungary there are 7.1 hospital beds available (the EU average is 5.2 and in the UK and US the number is less than 3) (ibid.). This high availability incentivises doctors to treat patients in hospital instead of in more cost-efficient out-patient clinics. The number of days patients spend in the hospital in Hungary is 5.2 days. Even patients undergoing routine surgery often stay more than a day. While in the UK and Denmark 80 per cent of patients are discharged 24 hours after a routine operation, in Hungary this rate is only 8 per cent. Since ‘the amount of ''hálapénz'' corresponds to the size of the injury and duration of recovery’ (ibid.), longer recuperation periods result in more gratuity. Hungary is among the OECD countries with lowest wages in the heath sector and faces mass migration of medical staff (OECD 2016). A shortage of approximately 5,000 nurses in Hungarian hospitals affects the quality and the speed of hospital treatments. Outdated hospital equipment raises the risk of medical malpractice suits, and poorly maintained hospital rooms risk infection<ref>Danó, A. 2016. ‘Döbbenetes állapotok fertőzés, orvoshiány és műhibák a magyar kórházakban’, Nol.hu, 1 February, http://nol.hu/belfold/dobbenetes-allapotok-fertozes-orvoshiany-es-rengeteg-muhiba-a-magyar-korhazakban-1599265</ref>. | ''Hálapénz'' is inseparable from the state of the Hungarian health system. Gratuity payments both help the health system function and diminish its [[resources]]. For every 1,000 patients in Hungary there are 7.1 hospital beds available (the EU average is 5.2 and in the UK and US the number is less than 3) (ibid.). This high availability incentivises doctors to treat patients in hospital instead of in more cost-efficient out-patient clinics. The number of days patients spend in the hospital in Hungary is 5.2 days. Even patients undergoing routine surgery often stay more than a day. While in the UK and Denmark 80 per cent of patients are discharged 24 hours after a routine operation, in Hungary this rate is only 8 per cent. Since ‘the amount of ''hálapénz'' corresponds to the size of the injury and duration of recovery’ (ibid.), longer recuperation periods result in more gratuity. Hungary is among the OECD countries with lowest wages in the heath sector and faces mass migration of medical staff (OECD 2016). A shortage of approximately 5,000 nurses in Hungarian hospitals affects the quality and the speed of hospital treatments. Outdated hospital equipment raises the risk of medical malpractice suits, and poorly maintained hospital rooms risk infection<ref>Danó, A. 2016. ‘Döbbenetes állapotok fertőzés, orvoshiány és műhibák a magyar kórházakban’, Nol.hu, 1 February, http://nol.hu/belfold/dobbenetes-allapotok-fertozes-orvoshiany-es-rengeteg-muhiba-a-magyar-korhazakban-1599265</ref>. | ||
It is often overlooked that ''hálapénz'' can be uncomfortable for the recipients as well. In 2015, ''1001 doctors against hálapénz'' formed a Facebook group and published an open letter addressing the issues of low wages and poor working conditions leading to the dependence of medical institutions on the informal income from ''hálapénz'' payments. The medical staff initiative emphasised that some physicians treat gifts as deposit for successful treatment or surgery and that gratuity payments ‘have nothing to do with gratitude anymore, because everybody is paying out of worry for their security. More precisely, for the illusion of security…’<ref>1001 Orvos hálapénz nélkül. 2015. ‘Nyílt level’, http://www.peticiok.com/az_1001_orvos_halapenz_nelkul_csoport_nyilt_levele_2015 </ref>. Yet being under treatment is often not only stressful but also passive. Patients may feel subordinated due to their limited medical competence. ''Hálapénz'' personalises the service, empowers a patient and provides one with a ‘sense of ownership and to become active decision-makers in one’s own healing process. Deciding upon what, how and why to give makes them matter again”<ref>Burai, P. 2016. Facing and Overcoming the Limitations of Anti-Corruption Legislation (Ph.D. thesis). Budapest: Eötvös Lóránd Tudományegyetem, pg. 167</ref>. Patients that insist on giving ‘’hálapénz’’ even when the doctor is unwilling to accept it, use tactics such as posting the money or leaving gifts in front of the doctors’ residences. | It is often overlooked that ''hálapénz'' can be uncomfortable for the recipients as well. In 2015, ''1001 doctors against hálapénz'' formed a Facebook group and published an open letter addressing the issues of low wages and poor working conditions leading to the dependence of medical institutions on the informal income from ''hálapénz'' payments. The medical staff initiative emphasised that some physicians treat gifts as deposit for successful treatment or surgery and that gratuity payments ‘have nothing to do with gratitude anymore, because everybody is paying out of worry for their security. More precisely, for the illusion of security…’<ref>1001 Orvos hálapénz nélkül. 2015. ‘Nyílt level’, http://www.peticiok.com/az_1001_orvos_halapenz_nelkul_csoport_nyilt_levele_2015 </ref>. Yet being under treatment is often not only stressful but also passive. Patients may feel subordinated due to their limited medical competence. ''Hálapénz'' personalises the service, empowers a patient and provides one with a ‘sense of ownership and to become active decision-makers in one’s own healing process. Deciding upon what, how and why to give makes them matter again”<ref>Burai, P. 2016. Facing and Overcoming the Limitations of Anti-Corruption Legislation (Ph.D. thesis). Budapest: Eötvös Lóránd Tudományegyetem, pg. 167</ref>. Patients that insist on giving ‘’hálapénz’’ even when the doctor is unwilling to accept it, use tactics such as posting the money or leaving gifts in front of the doctors’ residences. | ||